Cops monitor Lenasia after protests over illegal electricity connections, area remains calm

Police are monitoring Nirvana Drive in Lenasia following violent protests over illegal electricity connections.

On Tuesday morning, City Power, the police and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) conducted a joint operation in the area to remove illegal connections.

Several exposed wires used to connect electricity from street lights along Lenasia Drive were removed.

After the removal, residents used rocks and burning tyres to barricade streets around Lenasia Extension 1.

However, the situation was calm on Wednesday morning, according to police spokesperson Captain Hector Netshivodza.

"We are monitoring the area after we managed to disperse the crowd yesterday. The place is quiet for now and roads have been opened for traffic. We have opened a public violence case and no one has been arrested," said Netshivodza.

READ: Protesters barricade road after disconnections of stolen electricity in Lenasia

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said protesting residents wanted to reconnect the cables that were removed during the joint campaign.

He said the illegal connections posed a danger to residents, especially those who cross the railway line to a nearby informal settlement.

Mangena said the City would continue with similar operations and would target more upmarket suburbs.

"There are illegal connections in suburbs and there are also illegal connections done by big companies and in townhouses," said Mangena.

He said these connections were costing the City millions.

"At least R2bn is lost annually through illegal connections and this is the money that could have gone to build or electrify more suburbs," said Mangena.

Lenasia: Protest after @CityPowerJhb disconnected illegal connections. @AsktheChiefJMPD @CityofJoburgZA @HermanMashaba pic.twitter.com/8xxXt96au2

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 19, 2019

#BuyaMthetho #RegionG

Joint operation by @JoburgMPD officers , JMPD POPS ,SAPS POPS PRASA and City Power to remove Illegal Electricity connections in Lenasia.

Collaboration is key ??#SaferJoburg #JoburgByLaws pic.twitter.com/bsJQXjg48h

— David Tembe (@AsktheChiefJMPD) February 19, 2019

Exposed wires used to connect electricity illegally from the street lights along Lenasia Drive.
The connections pose danger to the residents especially the children. @CityofJoburgZA @Abramjee pic.twitter.com/4azB3gaKTp

— @CityPowerJhb (@CityPowerJhb) February 19, 2019

Police firing rubber bullets at protestors: Lenasia. @AsktheChiefJMPD @CityPowerJhb @HermanMashaba @SAPoliceService They took the streets after illegal connections were disconnected. pic.twitter.com/utZLHyhrvZ

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 19, 2019